I've noticed that even the most accomplished writers, including those with publishing contracts with companies that include Hachette Book Group, Macillan, and Simon & Schuster, are anxious about bringing their words to an audience.
Sharing your work with the world takes courage. It's a risk. As authors, we ask ourselves a lot of "what if" questions:
- What if it's awful?
- What if people hate it?
- What if readers talk publicly about how much they hate it?
- What if nobody buys it?
- What if I don't earn back the money I spent to create a quality product?
Sharing your work with the world takes courage. It’s a risk. As authors, we ask ourselves a lot of “what if” questions:
- What if it’s awful?
- What if people hate it?
- What if readers talk publicly about how much they hate it?
- What if nobody buys it?
- What if I don’t earn back the money I spent to create a quality product?
I’ve got a short response to all of those questions: You will survive.
Yes, you might feel sheepish or embarrassed, maybe even humiliated. But in the grand scheme of things, you’ll just keep moving forward, right?
I’ve got a longer response, too: What’s the worst thing that can happen in this situation? Can you live with that?
I’ll bet that you’ve endured far worse things than a critically panned book. I know I have.
Quotes about risk
With that in mind, I’m sharing 10 quotes about risk that resonate with me. The first is one that addresses how I approach risk: Before I take a leap, I make sure my bungee cord is attached.
I hope they make you more comfortable the risks you face as an author.
“Take calculated risks. That is quite different from being rash.” — General George Patton
“Only those who will risk going too far can possibly find out how far it is possible to go.” — T.S. Eliot
“Go out on a limb. That’s where the fruit is.” — Jimmy Carter
“Do one thing every day that scares you.” — Eleanor Roosevelt
“Opportunity dances with those on the dance floor.” — Anonymous
“If you risk nothing, then you risk everything.” — Geena Davis
“Take risks. If you win, you will be happy. If you lose, you will be wise.” — Anonymous
“You’ll always miss 100% of the shots you don’t take.” — Wayne Gretzky
“Don’t be afraid to take a big step. You can’t cross a chasm in two small jumps.”– David Lloyd George
“If you don’t play, you can’t win.”– Judith McNaught
Take a chance
Progress comes with risk. You won’t move forward without it.
Only you know how much you can handle, but if you want to succeed as an author, you’ll need to be able to take small risks, at least.
Once you get start pushing past your boundaries, even a bit, it will get easier. After awhile, you’ll discover that the rewards are worth it.
What risks have you taken with your book?
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